Dante

Pettis

Hardman’s release was first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. A seven-year NFL veteran, Hardman spent most of his career with the Chiefs, where he helped Kansas City win three Super Bowls. Last year he appeared in only two games with the Bills and dropped passes were an issue in training camp and preseason this year. Hardman will head to the open market where he could be a fit for another team looking for wide receiver depth. Also released/waived were OLB Cade Denhoff, CB Jordan Dunbar, G Bruno Fina, ILB Theron Gaines, C Sincere Haynesworth, DL Zion Logue, CB D.J. Miller, S Wande Owens, WR Dante Pettis, LB Otis Reese IV, WR Quentin Skinner, and TE Shane Zylstra.

Pettis, 30, caught 9-of-11 targets for 127 yards with the Saints last season. The Bills correspondingly released WR Jalen Virgil with a non-football injury designation.

Moore caught 11 passes with the Commanders last season. He initially entered the NFL as a 2016 fourth-round pick with the Ravens, and spent five seasons in Baltimore. The Ravens brought him aboard today after a workout that also included free agent WRs Sterling Shepard and Dante Pettis.

Tipton is now on the wrong side of questionable, which is unfortunate. The Saints will be without WR Chris Olave, who is in the hospital, recovering from a blood clot in his lung. This likely leaves WRs Kevin Austin and Dante Pettis atop the depth chart against the Panthers.

Tipton missed the Saints’ last two practices. Players typically play through illnesses, but he appears to be truly questionable. Were he to sit out, it would leave the Saints with only WRs Chris Olave, Kevin Austin Jr. and Dante Pettis on the active roster. Olave should handle a significant target share, per usual.

Pettis saw late playing time for the lowly Saints because of playing time, but the former second-round pick will make his living with New Orleans as a special teams contributor.

The touchdown gives Pettis Jr. his only score of 2024, and his first receiving touchdown since 2022. Pettis will get a chance to make rosters because he’s able to contribute on special teams, but that’s all he is at this point.

Pettis’ 27 yards led the Saints wide receivers, and his four targets tied Cedrick Wilson Jr. for the team-high amongst receivers. Pettis wasn’t able to do much with it, and it’s hard to feel confident about receivers catching passes from Spencer Rattler, but if you’re in a super deep league playing in Week 18 it does seem like Pettis is emerging as the team’s top receiver with Marquez Valdes-Scantling banged up.

Pettis was elevated from the practice squad amidst mounting injuries but was largely unable to take advantage of the opportunity. He should revert back to the practice squad Monday and is unlikely to contribute in a meaningful way down the stretch in a lost season for the Saints.

That’s a pretty strong indication that they believe they’ll be in need of reinforcements for Thursday night’s game against the Broncos. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed each missed practice on Monday and we suspect we’ll see the same today. Pettis could be a quick elevation as the Saints try to give five wideouts for Spencer Rattler on Thursday.